They say i say

On July 17, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued a revised Form I-9. The new form must be used by September 18, 2017.The revised form has only one substantive change. A new List C Document was added as an acceptable document – a Consular Report of Birth for a U.S. citizen who was born abroad.The new I-9 form can be accessed here.Employers must maintain a completed Form I-9 on file for every employee on their payroll who was hired after November 6, 1986 and for terminated employees during the required retention period. The purpose of the Form I-9 is to require the employer to establish the employee’s identity and authorization to work in the U.S.Below is a helpful checklist that Sheppard Mullin developed to help employers better understand and comply with the I-9 process. I-9 CHECKLIST FOR ONBOARDING AND REVERIFICATION Form I-9Use the latest form dated 07/17/2017. It is mandatory … [Read more...] about USCIS Issues New I-9 Form: Commentary and I-9 Checklist for Employers

“Becom­ing partner has not been as smooth a landing as I’d have expect­ed,” says “Bill,” a Seattle at­torney, of becoming an equity partner in 2007.Bill is not alone. Four newly minted partners from across the country (who asked not to be identified by name or firm) say that while they’re happy to have been offered a seat at the table, some changes that came with their entry to the partnership ranks surprised them. Their stories offer insights for associates who hope to step up the partnership ladder in the next several years.Fresh-faced partners say they were thrilled and flattered when asked to join the partnership. “I was very excited, and I felt like I deserved it,” says “John,” who became a nonequity partner at a midsize Chi­cago firm in 2007.What was missing was the data to make an informed decision on whether to accept the offer.“It’s a really odd business propo­sition, but we all … [Read more...] about I Wish I Had Known …

Updated: Charlotte School of Law is not in compliance with state standards regarding financial resources, planning or stability, according to the University of North Carolina’s Board of Governors committee, which handles state authorization and licensure for nonpublic, post-secondary degree granting institutions. decision states, the for-profit law school, which is part of the InfiLaw System, must submit an ABA-approved teach out or remedial plan no later than Aug. 10. Also, the decision directs the law school to admit no new students, and it must obtain a tuition guaranty bond of at least equal amount the prepaid tuition from students who may participate in the proposed teach-out plan.“It may not be the final nail in the coffin, but the noose is tightening,” says David Frakt, a Florida lawyer who was previously a dean candidate at another InfiLaw campus, Florida Coastal School of Law.Paul Meggett, who WSOC TV reports was recently named as Charlotte … [Read more...] about Charlotte School of Law receives state license restrictions; some say end may be near

An Indiana matrimonial lawyer allegedly targeted by a mother and son in a bizarre murder plot says authorities haven’t done enough to protect her and her family. Even though two suspects have been arrested, Rebecca Eimerman is fearful that she is still in danger.She credits her husband, Michael McQuinn, with saving her by spotting suspects Renee Perillo, 51, and Richard Perillo, 21, hidden in the cargo area of her Chevrolet Suburban, outside the couple’s Noblesville home. The Perillos claimed to be there for the purpose of getting high, according to authorities. McQuinn bluffed them into waiting for Hamilton County sheriff’s deputies to arrive by telling them he had a gun, reports the Indianapolis Star in a lengthy article republished by USA Today. McQuinn did own a firearm, but it was in the truck he usually drives.After law enforcement arrived and took the two Perillos into custody, they found both a syringe (later determined to contain a lethal dose of the … [Read more...] about Lawyer targeted in claimed murder plot says not enough was done to protect her family

A Florida sheriff says he will start taping inmates’ phone calls with their lawyers and will use the evidence against them in court.Sheriff Grady Judd of Bartow says the inmates like the idea—because it will force their lawyers to meet with them in person, 10Connects.com reports.“We talked to probably 35 or 40 inmates and said, ‘What do you think?’ ” Judd said. “They said, ‘We think it’s great because now we can see our attorney before we show up in court. Now we can have a face-to-face with our attorney.’ “Public defenders say the 26-mile drive for meetings as short as a couple minutes will put a tremendous strain on the office. On Monday alone, the PD’s office received 677 calls from the jail, The Ledger reports. “This, I feel, is just totally ridiculous,” Public Defender Marion Moorman told the publication.Judd says he decided to make the change after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that inmates have … [Read more...] about Fla. Sheriff Says Inmates Are Happy About Recorded Phone Calls with Lawyers

Podcast Transcript: This ABA Journal podcast is brought to you by WestlawNext, the most advanced technology combined with market-leading content and West’s history of trusted editorial excellence. Helping legal professionals save time is what they’ve been doing for over 125 years. Learn more at WestlawNext.com.Stephanie Francis Ward: Resume writing. It’s something few people enjoy but many want to know how to do it better. I’m Stephanie Francis Ward of the ABA Journal, and today I’m discussing the dos and don’ts of resume writing with Joe Ankus and Valerie Fontaine, two legal search consultants. I have a question for both of you. Do you find that candidates often undersell themselves on their resumes? Valerie, what do you think?Valerie Fontaine: I think the issue is more people overselling themselves on resumes. We don’t want people puffing. What’s most important is people be absolutely honest about everything they put on their resume … [Read more...] about How to Craft a Resume That Recruiters Will Love

Even trained advocates don’t get everything they want at work. But what are some good strategies for knowing when to accept a manager’s decision, or continue to press for what you want?In this episode of Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Dr. Artika Tyner, associate vice president for diversity and inclusion at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Tyner discusses how lawyers can advocate for themselves in the workplace without getting in their own way. Tyner also says that many people have jobs that don’t includes tasks where they can showcase their strengths, and she suggests finding out what one’s strengths are for pursuing promotions and career satisfaction. She wrote an article (PDF) on the topic for the ABA Young Lawyers Division in 2008. In This Podcast: Dr. Artika R. Tyner is an educator, author, speaker and advocate for justice. At the University of St. Thomas, Dr. Tyner … [Read more...] about How to be your own advocate at work without stepping on toes (podcast with transcript)

Speaking against the advice of his lawyers, a former Justice Department official told Newsweek magazine that he leaked news of the government’s warrantless wiretap program.Thomas Tamm, a former lawyer in the department’s Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, said he told the New York Times about the secret National Security Agency program in a 2004 pay phone call from a subway station, Newsweek reports.Eighteen months later, the New York Times ran a story about the eavesdropping program, used to wiretap overseas phone calls and e-mail of terrorism suspects. The article cited multiple anonymous sources.Tamm thought the program’s rules appeared to be hiding the program from a special intelligence court authorized to oversee it, Newsweek says. Since the story broke, the White House has required wiretap review by the special court, and Congress has passed a new law to regulate the eavesdropping.But Tamm’s home has been searched by federal agents and he lives in … [Read more...] about Ex-DOJ Lawyer Says He Leaked News of Warrantless Wiretaps

What do a unisex hair salon, an ice cream parlor, a liquor store, a martial arts and fitness studio, and an outdoor furniture and billiards company have in common? First, they are all in New York state.And second, each business and its owners have challenged the state’s no-surcharge law that prevents them from imposing “swipe fees.” The fees charge consumers for the higher costs that merchants bear by allowing customers to use credit cards. The businesses claim the law violates their First Amendment rights because it prohibits them from informing consumers they are paying a surcharge for credit. On the other hand, the merchants say, it allows them to offer discounts for those paying in cash.The law provides that any business violating the provision may be guilty of a misdemeanor and face a $500 fine, up to one year in prison or both.“This state-imposed speech code prevents the plaintiffs from effectively conveying to their customers—who absorb the costs of … [Read more...] about Merchants say loss of credit card ‘swipe fees’ violates their 1st Amendment rights

Although the Supreme Court held the UP government led by AkhileshYadav prima facie responsible for negligence in averting communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and neighboring areas, it declined to direct a CBI or SIT investigation into the cases. A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam passed a slew of directions for proper investigation in the cases and for rehabilitation of victims of the communal clashes. The court said there was no need for a direction for a CBI or SIT inquiry at this stage as the state government was taking proper action and had constituted a special investigation cell for conducting investigation into various cases.The apex court besides directing the State authorities to bring to book all accused persons irrespective of their political affiliations, gave directions that till the trial is completed, the victims and their family members be given protection by the state government. The bench passed this order on a batch of petitions filed by … [Read more...] about No CBI investigation into Muzaffarnagar riots, says Supreme Court [Read Judgment]